Signal.



W. SPARKS.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-81 IBIS.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

WILLIAM SPARKS, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPARKS-WITHINGTQN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE OHIO.

SIGNAL.

Original application filed May 11, 1915, Serial No. 27,375. Divided and this application filed @ctober e, 1915.

I Serial No. 5%,738.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM SPARKS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Jackson, in the county of Jackson, in the State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signals, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in signals, and more particularly to a hand operatedsignal of the mechanically actuated diaphragm type, susceptible of various uses but particularly applicable to automobiles, motor-boats, and other moving vehicles, and is a division of m co-pending application Serial No. 27,375, led May 11, 1915. Reference is hereby made to my copending application Serial No. 800,955, filed November 14, 1913.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a signal which is mechanically operable to ive an instantaneous alarm without possibility of failure and susceptible of a multiplicity of speeds, wholly within the control of the operator, for producing sounds of varying character both as to' pitch and as to loudness and which may, therefore, be used as a short or long distance signal, and is adaptable to the need of each case.

Another object is to produce such a signal of simple and comparatively inexpensive construction capableof forcing the vibration of the diaphragm at .a sufficient speed so that it will create a note as distinguished from simply a' noise or a sound.

Another object is to provide means operable from any predetermined point for forcing the vibration of the diaphragm at any one of the possible s eeds desired with only a slight movement of the operator.

Another object is to provide means for returning the operating means to its normal position after each movement, and to provide means allowing such return without forcing diaphragm vibration.

A further object is to provide means either for varying the degree of contact of the diaphragm operating members and therefore the amplitude of the forced vibration of the diaphragm, or simply as a compensation for ordinary wear.

Other objects and uses appear in the details of construction and arrangement illus- Patented filing, 6, 13.91%. I

trated in the accompanying drawings, in

'which-+ Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are the clutch elements.

The invention comprises, as shown, a suitable diaphragm 1 of sheet metal or similar material having a central adjustable contact member --2-; The marginal portion of the diaphragm is secured between the base of a resonator 3- and the flanged end portion -1 of a rear case 5 by means of suitable screws -6. The rear case 5-- carries a stepped bearing 'l', which bearing in turn carries the actuator 8, rotatably mounted thereon and spaced therefrom by a suitable thrust bearing -9- including rotary balls. This ball bearing may be of any usual and well known construction not herein necessary to further illustrate or describe.

The actuator. 8 comprises a fiat, substantially circular portion --10- substantially diametrically disposed with respect to the diaphragm and provided with a series of teeth 11 for contact with a suitable wear-piece 2 mounted on and adjustable through the diaphragm 1, and. a lower portion -'13 disposed below the toothed portion -10- to form a recess or seat -14';, as shown substantially cylin-. drical in form and open at the top for the reception of a suitable clutch member 15- positioned therein.

The part 13- is further provided with a depending circular flange l6- adapted to engage the stepped portion of the bear ing 7 to normally support and guide the actuator 8 in its rotary movement. Preferably, also, means is provided for holding the actuator to its bearing in all positions of the signal, and for this purpose and as illustrative of one means, a cylindrical sleeve l7- i attached to the wall of the case 5- in any suitable and well lmown perspective views of engage the lugs 29.

within the case -5 and extending through registering openings in the clutch member -15 and the actuator 8.

The ball bearing 9,. and stepped bearing 7, are also provided with openings forming a conduit -20 registering with the openings through the actuator and the clutch member, and this conduit, in this specific illustration, is closed by a suitable tubular boss 21 having a threaded relation with the case 5 and stepped hearing 7,,as shown. The conduit contains a suitable spring 22 for normally holding the shaft -18- at substantially its limit of upward movement, and the shaft may, as shown, he provided with a suitable flat head -23forming a bearing for the spring.

The clutch member, in this specific illustration, is identical with that disclosed in my co-pending applications heretofore referred to, and comprises a suitable nut 2 i provided with a central spirally formed open ing 25 adapted to fit the spiral portion -l9- of theshaft, so that longitudinal movement of the shaft through the nut will cause rotation of the nut, the shaft being held from rotary movement by the engagement of the square upper portion thereof with a square opening 26 through the case -5-.

The nut is arranged within a casing comprising the recessed section 27 and closure section 28 arranged, in this specific illustration, with the recessed section 27 uppermost and inverted, and the closure section may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, and, in this specific instance, openings are illustrated for the reception of screws for uniting the parts. The section 28 is provided with lugs -29- extending inwardly in assembled condition of the clutch member and adapted for contact with teeth 30' upon the adjacent face of the nut 24.-.

The recess in section 27 is sufficiently deep to allow the nut -24 to be raised by upward movement of shaft --18- to a position at which the teeth thereon will not In other words, the recess within the case is of sufiicient depth or size to allow nut -24: with the teeth thereon to move out of engagement with the lugs upon the case so that the nut argest may freely rotate within and with respect to the case. When the nut is moved downwardly by a downward movement of shaft 18-, the teeth upon the nut come into engagement with the lugs -29 upon the case to prevent rotation of the nut while the shaft 18 is moved in that direction.

The section 27, in this specific illustration of the casing, is rigidly secured to the actuator -8. and within the recess 14- thereof by a suitable set screw 31, whereby rotation of the clutch member causes rotation of the actuator -8.

When the shaft -l8 has reached the limit of its downward movement and is released, the spring -22 will automatically return it to starting position. Preferably, the shaft 18 is provided with a suitable knob or handle -82- of any suitable or desired construction or form.

lit will be apparent now that by pressing downwardly upon the handle -32.-, the nut 24-, the case comprising the members 27 and -28, and the actuator 8 will be rotated in unison, the teeth .11 of the actuator by contact with the wear-piece -12. causing a forced vibration of the diaphragm. When the handle ,32 is released, the spring 22- auto matioally raises the shaft, which in turn raises the nut 24L so as to release the teeth 30 from engagement with the lugs 29. The nut 24 will then freely rotate within its case and allow the shaft to be automatically returned upwardly by the spring without rotation of the shaft or of the actuator -8-.

Although I have shown and described one particular construction, method of assemblage, and manner of operation of the de-' vice, I do not desire to limit myself to the same, as many changes may be made in the details of assemblage, relative engagement and form of the parts, without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a signal, a diaphragm, a diaphragm actuator, a spiral shaft, a nut mounted on said shaft, a case inclosing the nut, and mechanism for causing the actuator to r0 tate with said case. I

2. Tn a signal, a diaphragm, a spiral shaft, a diaphragm actuator substantially poaxial with said shaft and having a central recess, a clutch case positioned in the recess, a nut correlated with the spiral shaft and clutch case so that rotation of'the nut in one direction causes rotation of said clutch case, and means for causing the actuator to rotate in unison with said case. a 3.- Tn a horn, a diaphragm having a wearpiece thereon, a casing at the rear of the diaphragm, a tubular bearing mounted within the casing, an actuator rotatably mounted upon the tubular bearing, a spiral permitting free rotation of the nut within 10 shaft adapted to be projected through the the flcasing when the shaft is moved in the actuator and into the tubular bearing, a opposite dlreotion.

nut mounted on said shaft, a casing inc1os- In witness whereof I have hereunto set ing the nut, rigid connections between the iny hand this 27th day of September, 1915. said casing. and the actuator, and means on WILLIAM SPARKS. the said casing for engaging the nut to pre- Witnesses:

vent rotation of the nut within saidcasing LILLIAN E. HUNDERLICH,

when the shaft is moved in one direction and W; J. CORBETT. 

